2010 DreamWorks SKG

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Reviewed byKerry Bennett

Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes, yet they are most easily recognized when they have chiseled jaw lines, broad shoulders and bulging muscles. It doesn’t hurt that Metro Man (voice by Brad Pitt) also has a skintight, spandex suit and a white cape to distinguish him from the everyday citizens of Metro City.

Like other champions before him, Metro Man is an alien sent here from a dying planet. Luckily he fell on the doorstep of a well-to-do family and was raised with all the privileges a wealthy upbringing could offer. His antithesis and arch nemesis, the blue-skinned Megamind (voice by Will Ferrell), also hails from a distant galaxy. His childhood, however, was spent behind bars in the Metro City Prison where he bounced to a landing in his space pod. Over the years, the battles between the pair have gone from legendary to rather routine.

Time after time, Megamind and his underling Minion (voice by David Cross) kidnap reporter Roxanne Ritchi (voice by Tina Fey) in an attempt to lure Metro Man into their hands. But the game rules change when the bigheaded scoundrel manages to permanently rid the city of its favorite do-gooder. Suddenly the super villain is left with no one to stop him from taking anything he wants from the unlucky residents who share his zip code.

But without a fight, Megamind’s unbridled ability to bully the locals quickly becomes unfulfilling. Putting his enlarged cranium to work, he determines to make a new superhero to combat. Unfortunately, Tighten (voice by Jonah Hill) turns out to be more evil than his creator. Watching his handiwork wreak havoc on his hometown, Megamind must venture where he’s never gone before—on the side of good.

For superherobuffs, the movie plays homage to all kinds of previous action figuresincluding Captain Marvel, Flash, X-Men and Ghost Rider. Even actor Ben Stiller lends his vocal talents to a replica of Marlon Brando’s fatherly figure in Superman. (Stiller’s children, Ella and Quinn, also voice characters.) Yet while those comic book references, along with plenty of well-written quips aimed at older audiences, will engage the parents in the theater, the film’s introspective second act may fail to hold the attention of younger viewers. As well, the slapstick humor (which is often heavy on "slap") involves a large stick repeatedly used to knock people out. Explosions, property damage and the depiction of a character’s death may also be unsettling to some children.

Still, for older kids and the adults that accompany them, this script offers an engaging twist to the superhero genre and more rounded characters than most animations. While it may seem strange to find yourself cheering for the villain, the message of this movie seems to be that although a tiger can’t change its stripes, even bad people can do some surprisingly good things when given the opportunity.

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Discussion Ideas After The Movie

Teaching ideas and topics to discuss about Megamind.

What stereotypical characters are portrayed in this movie? How do those oversimplified conceptions change during the course of the story? How does that affect the way you feel about them?

Is success always as wonderful as one envisions? What does Megamind discover about having complete power? What does he miss?

What kind of pressure do the citizens of Metro City put on Metro Man? Who, besides superheroes, may feel this kind of demand in our societies? How do the rules of combat change when Tighten arrives on the scene?

Trailers & Clips

Canadian Movie Ratings

BCSKGViolence.

ABG

MBPGFrightening Scenes

ONPGCartoon/Animation Action

QCG

NBNSNLPEG

Canadian Home Video Rating: PG

Watch @ Home

Details on home video releases of Megamind...

Megamind releases to DVD and Blu-ray on February 25, 2011 with the following bonus extras:

Megamind: Single DVD:

- Meet the All-Star Cast

- Discover the Lost Scene

- Filmmaker’s Commentary

Megamind: DVD Mega Double Two-Pack

- Meet the All-Star Cast

- Discover the Lost Scene

- Visit Megamind’s Lair

- Experience AnimatorMan

- Learn to Draw Megamind

- Unleash The Reign of Megamind Video Comic Book

- Filmmakers Commentary

- Fun high-flying games and more!

Megamind: Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

DISC 1:

- Megamind on Blu-ray

- Megamind: The Button of Doom (Megamind and Minion return to battle an even bigger foe in this all-new Mega comedy adventure!)

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aandjmom says: Nov. 19, 2010

My kids and I really liked the movie. However, I thought the part where he walked on water was in poor taste. One thing that is not mentioned in any review I have found is that there is a seen where the created bad guy is yelling at the girl and he says that she thinks there is good in everyone and that the world is a wonderful place. He then yells there is no tooth fairy, there is no easter bunny. I was waiting for him to yell there is no santa claus. I really think they could have omitted that part.

jhartmus says: Jun. 10, 2011

Yes, he yells no tooth fairy and no Easter bunny….but there is a third item in the list of things that “don’t exist” that blantently and surely DOES exist without question that makes the guy just sound off his rocker and nuts. My 6 and 8 yos took it in just that manner - boy that guy is crazy to say that.

Enjoyed the movie more than I expected. The kids did too. We watched on our TV at home. I think, based on past experiences, that my sensitive 6yo would not have enjoyed this on the big screen as it would have been too intense at times.